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In this Delirious W.E.S.T 2026 athlete wrap-up episode, I catch up with the wonderfully tough, funny and no-nonsense Sym Mercer after her 200-mile adventure.
Sym had a chilled drive across the Nullarbor – complete with a very questionable golf performance along the way – and arrived at Delirious ready to finally get moving after months of build-up, planning, podcast check-ins and travel.
But, as we all know, 200-mile events rarely go exactly to plan.
Early in the race, Sym’s pack wasn’t sitting quite right, then a couple of unlucky battles with sticks jarred her knee – the second one changing the whole direction of her race. From there, running became difficult, downhill became seriously painful, and what was meant to be a much faster finish turned into a massive hike, grit-fest and full-body exercise in determination.
There were dry retches, bile, dirt naps, warmed-up coconut chocolate water, crew checkpoints, toddler-style food negotiations, squeaky pain noises, and one very clear thought from Sym: she did not want to spend another night out there.
But at no point did she decide she was done.
With her amazing crew – Paul, Ed, Libby, Trace, Ali and her dad – helping her regroup, sleep, eat, hydrate and keep moving, Sym found a way to get herself to the finish line around 1am Sunday morning. It may have been about 10 hours later than planned, but in true Sym style, the job was done.
We also chat about coming back to reality after a huge event, the strange brain fog of returning to work, why these big adventures are such a powerful mental reset, and what Sym learned about fuelling in cooler conditions.
And because apparently resting is optional, Sym already has more adventures on the horizon, including pacing at West Macs, heading back to Coast to Coast in New Zealand, and taking on Race Across Scotland.
This is a brilliant, honest, funny and quietly powerful conversation about problem-solving, crew support, digging deep, and getting it done even when the original plan has completely gone out the window.
Why You’ll Love This Episode
- Sym’s very casual approach to driving across the Nullarbor and playing golf badly along the way
- The moment a simple trip changed the whole race
- How she managed knee pain for a huge part of the 200 miler
- Why fuelling in cool weather caught her by surprise
- The incredible role her crew played in keeping her moving
- Dirt naps, emergency bivvies and “squeaky noise” monitoring
- The mental simplicity of ultra events – eat, move, change socks, repeat
- The shock of returning to real life afterwards
- Sym’s reflections on finishing even when the race doesn’t go to plan
- A sneak peek at her next big adventures
Tips from Sym’s 200-Mile Adventure
1. Things can change in a split second
You can be fit, prepared and ready – then one little trip, fall or jar can completely change the race. That doesn’t mean the race is over. It just means the plan has changed.
2. Fuelling still matters when it’s cold
Sym was eating and drinking, but not enough. Cooler weather made it harder to read her body’s needs, and that caught up with her later in the race.
3. A good crew is everything
Sym’s crew didn’t just cheer her on – they made decisions, adjusted pacing plans, got food and fluids into her, monitored her condition and helped her keep moving safely.
4. You don’t have to feel amazing to keep going
Sometimes finishing looks less like running strong and more like walking, squeaking, swearing at bitumen and refusing to stop.
5. Big events strip life right back
No emails. No work decisions. No legislation. Just: what do I need to eat, how do I get to the next checkpoint, and can someone please tell me which socks to wear?
Delirious WEST event Website – https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/
Interested in the 2027 DW?
Go join the event Facebook Group so you don’t miss when the race opens for entries in June for new runners – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387
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💛 Want your running to feel lighter again?
If this conversation resonated, you might enjoy The Running Reset – a simple bundle of guided runs and practical tools to help you reset your rhythm, clear your head, and reconnect with why you run.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/the-running-reset
If you’re looking for a little more support with your running, I also offer personalised ZenRUN coaching – simple weekly structure, guidance, and encouragement to help you stay consistent and enjoy your running again.
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/zenrun-personalised-run-coaching/
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🙏 A couple of big favours
1️⃣ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast – it helps more runners discover these conversations.
2️⃣ I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you (or someone you know) has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
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